Suzuki Grand Vitara 2013 review

Suzuki Australia has had ongoing demands to import two-wheel drive Grand Vitaras for many years. In recent times a proliferation of 2WD models has maintained SUVs as the fastest growing market segment around the world according to Suzuki. Now the company has done something about it and the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2WD, known as the Urban, is here.

VALUE

Priced from $28,990 driveaway, the Suzuki Urban 2WD automatic slots in to the mid range of Vitaras and offers plenty of bang for the bucks. The four-speaker audio system has a dash-mounted single-disc CD player, remote steering wheel-mounted controls, auxiliary input and Bluetooth connectivity.

A high-resolution touch screen features an extensive infotainment platform, including AM/FM/CD radio, multi-media playback, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and Garmin satellite navigation. The touch screen functions can be hard to operate under bumpy road conditions but there is voice control on offer to assist in switching between functions.

The navigation system uses spoken-word guidance with street names, lane guidance, speed limits and current speed displays. Be wary of the displayed speed-limit figures as more than once on the test drive they did not tally with the actual limit. Also, be aware of temporary speed limits at roadworks; the car’s computer is unlikely to have information on them. Some very expensive cars have cameras that can read speed limit signs to avoid these problems, but this technology has yet to trickle down to affordable vehicles.

TECHNOLOGY

The Urban comes with the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine we have admired in the Grand Vitara 4WD for many years. It is matched to a five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic, the latter being fitted in our test vehicle. Power is put to ground via the rear wheels, not the fronts as in most ‘4WDs’ that are only driven by two wheels.

The Suzuki digitally operated climate-control with particle filter aids comfort, even beyond the bitumen. That’s right, ‘beyond the bitumen’, because you don’t always need drive to all four wheels if you plan to run on dirt roads.

DESIGN

Compared with the long running 4WD Vitara the reworked front end features a new grille and bumper, two new colours – Gaia Bronze and Bison Brown – stylish new 17-inch alloy wheels and new seat fabrics. On the outside are halogen headlights, power door mirrors, rear window washer/wiper, rear parking sensors and roof rails. Absent are front foglamps, indicator lights on the door mirrors and a sunroof.

Inside the passenger cabin the look is cheap but not nasty, with hard plastic surfaces and the extra comfort provided by cloth seats. The steering wheel has leather wrapping. Cruise control is handy on long country trips and the Urban has the convenience of power windows and remote door locks.

SAFETY

The Grand Vitara Urban carries a full complement of active and passive safety features which include front, side and curtain airbags, anti-skid braking with emergency stopping systems, vehicle stability and traction control, plus hill descent and hill hold. Recently added to the set-up was a reversing camera that projects an image onto a 6.1-inch high-resolution touch screen.

DRIVING

Fuel consumption was disappointing for a four-cylinder SUV, particularly one without the weight and power sapping of an all-wheel-drive system. The best figure we obtained was 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres after some relatively easy running, while the worst was 11 litres per hundred kilometres.

The reversing camera picture left a lot to be desired in poor outside light, thus putting the responsibility back onto the driver when it comes to making sure there’s nothing behind the vehicle. On the plus side, dust sealing of the passenger cabin was good, if not class leading, with some fine dust intrusion in harsh conditions. Passenger comfort generally was beyond that expected in an SUV of the Grand Vitara Urban’s price.

VERDICT

With ever increasing use of SUVs as passenger station wagons we feel the new Suzuki Grand Vitara Urban will have no trouble filling sales lists in its class.